Pay as you go mobile plans
Don't use your phone very often? Only pay for what you use and save with a pay as you go plan.
Key takeaways
- Unlike prepaid or postpaid plans with bundled data and calls, Pay as you go (PAYG) charges you per minute, per text and per MB of data
- PAYG is ideal if you're a light user or require a backup SIM for emergencies
- amaysim has the cheapest PAYG plan due to lower usage rates
What is a pay as you go mobile plan?
Pay as you go (PAYG) mobile plans are basically a throwback to how prepaid plans used to work: you buy credit upfront and get charged for every individual call, text and megabyte of data used.
(Fans of M.I.A's Paper Planes will doubtlessly recall the lyric: "hit me on my burner prepaid wireless". She was singing about PAYG mobile plans.)
PAYG is different to prepaid and postpaid plans, which provide unlimited calls and a data allowance for a set monthly fee.
- Example: Pay $35 upfront for Vodafone's Pay and Go plan. Calls and text cost 20c per minute/SMS, and data costs 6c per MB. This means if you make a call lasting for 5 minutes, it'll cost you $1 and you'll have $34 of credit remaining.
PAYG mobile plans are great for those who don't use their phone very often and want total control over what they spend. You only pay for what you use with credit lasting up to 365 days.
The flipside is that you need to monitor your own usage - including texts and phone calls - to avoid running out of credit.
Our expert says
"I switched from prepay to postpay mobile phone plans a few years ago and never looked back. Not only is it cheaper and more likely to include international minutes, but you also never need to worry about bill shock."
How to find the best PAYG mobile plan
There are two main things to consider when determining which PAYG plan is best.
Step 1: Expiry period
The expiry period is how long your credit will last - most plans give you 365 days, but some have shorter expiry periods. The longer the expiry, the less you'll need to pay for your mobile plan over a year.
If you're committing to a longer expiry period, make sure the included credit will last you for the whole period. There's no point signing up to a 12-month plan if you're going to run out of credit before then.
Step 2: Usage rates
While you can easily compare data and monthly prices when it comes to regular mobile plans, it's not as straightforward with PAYG plans.
Because PAYG plans don't come with unlimited calls and texts, usage rates matter. The higher the rate for your calls, texts and data, the faster your credit will run out. Some telcos also charge a flagfall fee which can bump up the cost of quick calls.
Did you know?
Flagfall is the fixed amount you need to pay when making any phone call, regardless of how long the call lasts for. Most telcos have moved away from flagfall pricing - if you're on an old legacy PAYG plan, it definitely pays to check.
You can compare the PAYG usage rates from some of Australia's most popular providers in the table below.
Pay as you go plans: Pros and cons
PAYG plans are a great way to save if you don't rely on your phone very much. But otherwise, especially if you need data, they might not be such a good idea. Here are the pros and cons laid out below for PAYG plans.
Pros
- Long expiry periods: PAYG plans do not require you to pay a monthly fee - you can use your credit for up to a year without paying anything extra.
- Always have a phone number: PAYG plans are ideal if you just need a mobile number so people can contact you.
- Cost control: Only pay for what you use, with a detailed breakdown of your calls, texts and data usage.
- Great for backup: PAYG is an affordable way to keep a second SIM in case of emergencies.
Cons
- Expensive data: PAYG plans are terrible value if you intend to use mobile data regularly.
- Limited choice: PAYG have fallen from favour and subsequently aren't offered by many providers.
- Fewer inclusions: Promotional deals and bonus features are typically not offered on PAYG plans.
Cheapest pay as you go mobile plans
The cheapest PAYG plan does not necessarily provide the best bang-for-buck. You need to balance the upfront plan fee against the expiry period and usage rates. This last factor is crucial - higher usage rates will eat into your credit a lot faster.
In the table below, we break down a few of the most popular PAYG plans so you can see how they compare.
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan name | Amaysim As You Go | ALDI Mobile Pay As You Go | Vodafone Prepaid Pay and Go |
| Expiry period | 365 days | 365 days | Choice of 180 or 365 days |
| Call rates | 12c per minute | 15c per minute | 20c per minute |
| Text rates | 12c per SMS | 15c per SMS | 20c per SMS |
| MMS rates | 35c per MMS | 35c per MMS | 35c per MMS |
| Data rates | 5c per MB | 6c per MB | 6c per MB |
| Minimum cost | $15 | $5 | $35 |
As you can see, ALDI Mobile has the cheapest PAYG plan, but only when it comes to the upfront cost. When you calculate data rates, Amaysim works out to be cheaper.
You will also need to top up your credit on ALDI's plan straight away, even if you're a light user - its PAYG starter pack is SIM only and doesn't include any credit. (Any PAYG credit you add lasts for 365 days.)
How much can I save with a PAYG plan?
You only save money with a PAYG plan if you don't use your phone frequently. To illustrate this, we've compared ALDI Mobile's entry-level $19 plan against various usage patterns on its PAYG plan below.
The PAYG plan works out cheaper than a regular plan for low usage amounts, but costs can spiral quickly once you're making a few calls per day or sending multiple texts. Calls are also charged per minute, not per call.
If you can limit your usage to fewer than 4 calls/texts per day (and don't engage in lengthy chats), a PAYG plan provides the best value. For everyone else, a regular mobile plan will likely be cheaper.
There's also data to consider. ALDI Mobile's entry-level $19 plan comes with 10GB data. The same amount on a PAYG plan will cost a whopping $614.40.
We highly recommend you steer clear of PAYG plans if you want to use any amount of data.
PAYG vs long expiry plans
Mobile plan providers are increasingly shifting towards long expiry plans instead of PAYG.
These work similar to monthly prepaid plans, but with a longer exiry period (usually 6 or 12 months).
Unlike PAYG plans, long expiry plans come with unlimited calls and texts, so you don't need to monitor your daily usage. They also come with a set amount of data unstead of charging per megabyte.
For most users, a long expiry plan provides better overall value, especially if you plan to use mobile data.
The exception is very light users who basically need a phone for occassional texts and incoming calls. The upfront costs are cheaper and you'll only be charged for what you actually use.
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When do I get my number
Hi Anthony. With most PAYG mobile plans, you’ll receive a number immediately upon activating the SIM – either by choosing a new number or porting your existing one. You’ll receive confirmation via email or the telco app. Hope this helps!